Keith Hudson’s rocksteady rhythms

We cannot display this galleryThe enigmatic producer and singer Keith Hudson first made an impression on the Jamaican music scene in the late 60’s with successful vocal sides by Ken Boothe, Delroy Wilson and John Holt. These early hits were enhanced by ground breaking early DJ sides by the likes of Dennis Alcapone and U Roy.

By the early 1970’s the music was flowing thick and fast on his Inbidimts Now Sounds, Imbidimts, Rebind and Mafia labels. Whilst much of his 70’s work was on cuting edge Reggae rhythms a handful of tunes harked back to an earlier era by utilising older Rocksteady backing tracks the same rhythms were also used by Hudson’s associate Derrick Kenyute “Stamma” Hobson who released tunes on the Stamma, Big Style and Atom labels.

Shake It Up rhythm

Believed to be by the Versatiles or the Sensations, only blank copies of Shake It Up seem to exist so it is impossible to be certain about the artists.Keith Hudson recorded himself on this rhythm and voiced the DJ Phillip Samuel on it.

Shake It Up – probably the Versatiles or the Sensations, a “CB” production.http://www.dancecrasher.co.uk/features/hudson/shakeitup.mp3

How Keith Hudson came by these rhythms isn’t exactly clear. They all seem to have come from a producer with the initials CB (as indicated on the matrix) and were released as blanks, or on the Olympic label, between 1967 and 1969. The producer was believed to have been Carl Bryan but apparently he has said it wasn’t him, other possibles are Clifton Baugh or C.Bradford. The UK releases on Pama only serve to confuse matters concerning the true identity of the producer. Show Me The Way/What Can I Do by The Termites credits R.Bennett and Push It Up by The Termites credits H.Robinson as producer and Clancy Eccles as composer!

Show Me The Way rhythm

Show Me The Way by The Termites is the only one of the “CB” rhythms used by Keith Hudson to get a UK release; on the Pama label. Hudson must have liked this rhythm as he voiced two songs on it himself, note the different mix on the second cut.

Show Me The Way – The Termiteshttp://www.dancecrasher.co.uk/showmetheway.mp3

One of these rhythm tracks, Go And Cry, was also used by Derrick Kenyute “Stamma” Hobson who had a working relationship with Keith Hudson. Hobson cut Golden Snake by Johnny Clarke and a number of other tunes on this rhythm it was also used by Hudson on his vocal; Smoke Without Fire.

Go And Cry AKA Golden Snake rhythm

The artist credit on the original rocksteady cut Go And Cry is also unconfirmed. The later use of the rhythm is a lot clearer; Keith Hudson voiced it himself and Keith Hobson recorded Johnny Clarke, the Heptones and deejay Little Clive (Clive Chin) on it

Artist is unclear – possibly the Merry Boys (the Harmonians??) or the Emotions – Go And CryKeith Hudson – Smoke Without FireJohnny Clarke – Golden SnakeLittle Clive – African BreadThe Heptones – Girl You Were WrongLarry McDonald – AnodeStamma All Stars – Mr Dub (this is the flip side of Girl You Were Wrong but is actually a dub of Anode)
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Many of the Keith Hudson and Keith Stamma Hobson sides mentioned are available on the excellent but now deleted Trojan Records double CD compilation – The Hudson Affair, this gives a great overview of Hudson’s work from the late 60’s onwards and is well worth tracking down.

Night Curfew rhythm

Night Curfew was apparently only issued on a blank with a hand written credit for Karl Bryan. This fueled speculation that the “CB” matrix refers to Carl/Karl Bryan though this has apparently been discounted.

The following are not featured on The Hudson Affair; Erotic Touch Of Hot Skin – Dennis Alcapone, Always – Al Brown, Old Fire Stick – Keith Hudson, Girl You Wrong – Heptones (all of which are currently unavailable) and Hot Stick Version – Phillip Samuel which was available on the now deleted Trojan CD Studio Kinda Cloudy.

Dance With Me rhythm

The original version of this rhythm was the last to be identified, Dance With Me was on the flip side Shake It Up (see above). Keith Hudson used it twice, for Al Brown and Dennis Alcapone.

The final track (below) is another Olympic production, initially it was thought this might be related to Always/Erotic Touch… whilst this isn’t the case I’ve kept the sound sample up as it would be a shame to lose it!

Ed Parkins – Soul Message
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The “CB” Rocksteady sides are altogether more obscure and hard to find. None are currently available on reissue nor does it seem likely that they will be unless some enterprising individual can positively confirm the identity of the producer and make contact with him.

My Baby Is Gone rhythm

My Baby is Gone was only re-used once by Keith Hudson.

The Termites – My Baby Is GoneKeith Hudson – Old Broom
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12 comments to Keith Hudson’s rocksteady rhythms

I really like the new layout Tim. I believe that Little Clive who toasted on ‘African Bread’ is Clive Chin but can’t confirm that 100%. Nice to hear ‘Stamma’ on the intro as well.
Just in case anyone is interested the inspiration for Dennis Alcapone’s fantastically titled ‘Erotic Touch of Hot Skin’ can be found here;http://tinyurl.com/2le6db

Nice feature. I always imagined a Delroy original to ‘Smoke without fire’ before discovering this! Is there the same guitar bits on the original (Lynne Tait?)? Anywhere I can hear the whole original?
Keep up the good work.
Vinc

My name is Ras Charles Jones. I performed with Keith is 1980 in a band called Earthworm. We performed at My Fathers Place, Tramps, Tier 3, Eighties. I now do radio at Binghamton University-WHRW. I can re reached at 607 7295526 for further info on Keith. Ras Charles Jones

My name is Errol Hobson, Derrick K. Hobson (The ‘K’ means Kenyute and not Keith as was previously mentioned) is my late brother who died the summer of ’78. I know for a fact that he did a few recordings with artiste such as Johnny Clarke and Roman Stewart. The tunes that readily came to mind: “Ride On Young Girl” by Johnny Clarke, and Roman Stewart’s “Love Jah and Live”. “Ride On Young Girl” was remixed and release on a 12″ Disco Mix. This particular track was released on his own label [THE BETSY original Stamma].